Fynbos: A Jewel of the Ethesial Zone

The Fynbos biome (at the continental biome level) is a member of the global warm-temperate Ethesial Zone (zonobiome S1). The dominating feature of the vegetation supported by this biome are species- and endemic-rich shrublands. The occurrence of bioclimatically and pedologically marginal coastal thickets as well as inland fire-shy Cape thickets is briefly discussed. The relationship between pockets of fire-shy afrotemperate forests (belonging to another zonobiome) and the fynbos shrublands are also analysed. The CB Fynbos is here divided into 19 regional biomes, of which most are intrazonal pedobiomes, and two are extrazonal; only four regional biomes (all characterised by renosterveld vegetation) are of true zonal nature. This chapter presents descriptions of all 19 regional biomes.